Rob Ross’ Jugglers Blade reviewed by fellow author Natasja Hellenthal
Great read with the potential to become an Epic Fantasy! 5 star
I can seen this becoming a film as well, it was that visual with very well fleshed out characters, each with their own background stories and motives and good flowing dialogue.
The cover, however not the author’s fault, didn’t do much for me personally and especially after finishing the book think it lets the novel down. It doesn’t make people interested and does not capture or justify the inside; the excellent story.
This book is about so much more than just a juggling boy! Therefore, as such deserves a great cover with great picture and font.
I got drawn in right from the start when the story opens with the main character, the boy Ian and his uncle/guardian Farley, who live as showmen. Living off Ian’s juggling tricks, we soon learn these are not just simple tricks, Ian is Accursed.
They meet Jolland, an old friend of Farley and, who we later learn, was his mother’s best friend, who was also Accursed and killed by the evil Heralds many years before.
Here is becomes interesting as we step into Ian’s shoes and a whole new world opens up to him. A world with Wardens, Heralds, Postulants and D’Natai’s; Accursed (or Blessed); Presses and Prods.
From now on he has two choices: to simple “lie down upon the cobblestones, and “wait for the collar to be placed around his neck” (which will contain his magic and feeds the evil Heralds), or he must “Stand up, resist and a find a way to survive”.
Jolland brings Ian to the Capitol of Lodric, where he joins a Guild; Packs or who call themselves Spiders.
Then it gets a bit complicated (and not only for Ian, I have to admit) as he learns about the four different D’Natai: people who bond the forces of nature; energy and motion, manipulating light, alter and change them, to make them bend to their will.
There are four kinds: An’Vanai (Press), An’Shoal (Prod), Zn’Vanai (Shade) and Zn’Shoal (Chill).
Jolland is of course one of them and one of three; each searching for undiscovered D’Natai and then hiding them away in self-sufficient Packs. She has saved hundreds so far.
Ian learns he is a Prod and able to affect the trajectory and the speed of moving things.
His pack leader and trainer for his emerging talents is Della, who is an excellent realistic character who I took a liking to.
She is a bit harsh with Ian at first, but they both come to respect one another as she teaches him how to be a Prod. Ian is stubborn and good at heart and very able to be creative in the teachings.
The Pack consists of Della, who is the brains and a Chill. Roone, the muscle, Rut, the mouthpiece and Lilith the unseen hands and a Shade. And now with Ian, they work together as a team.
Isidore and Salazar are powerful creepy villains, but entertaining. They are Immortals and capture of the Accursed is their obligation due to an old price to be paid off.
They have been hunting Accursed for a thousand years.
Ian and his mates have to choose their battles. But…how do you kill an Immortal and make them stay dead?
All in all a fine story, interesting plot, good dialogue and excellent character-and world building. At the end I was in near tears!
I can see influences of Charles Dickens and Terry Goodkind; which is not a bad thing, but the Confessor and the collar were used before…
A book to read and enjoy again and I’m looking forward to the second book in the trilogy (with hopefully a better cover)!
Natasja Hellenthal (author of ‘The Queen’s Curse’)
